Favela Street Kid: The 1-1! We need Pele!
”
Story of Little Pele
Chapter 1
The mid-afternoon sun was hot and unforgiving in the
favela. In this heat, roads melted and the sand burned
your feet. It had been in the high thirties for over a
week now and Little Pele’s Brazilian neighbourhood of
narrow lanes, jigsaw bricks and corrugated metal felt
like one huge, town-sized oven.
What made matters worse was that it was too hot for the
tourists. They had been staying in Rio’s air-conditioned
hotels and villas for the past few days, which, to a street
kid like Little Pele who needed to sell his papayas while
they were still ripe, meant no money for his family. It
also meant he might have to work on the rubbish dumps
to earn some money. He had been wandering the streets
all day but hadn’t sold anything. Little Pele picked up
his crate and headed towards Copacabana beach.
On his way, he came across a game of street football.
“Lil’ P!” someone shouted. It was Gabriella, his best
friend. “It’s the final of 1970 - Brazil versus Italy! It’s
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Little Pele’s passion was football. When he wasn’t selling
papayas or sifting through rubbish dumps looking for
something he could sell, he was kicking a ball with his
friends. His family were football-mad as well. His parents
named him after Pele - the greatest footballer of all time,
his dad said. But his family also
needed money to live. He looked at
the papayas and then back at the
game. If he didn’t sell the papayas,
his family would have no money
to buy simple things like bread
and water.
Suddenly, the ball flew over to
where he was standing. Little
Pele controlled the ball on his
chest, juggled it between both
feet, balanced it on his head,
flicked the ball up and trapped
it under his foot.
Sell the papayas or score in
a World Cup final? Hmm, it
was a tough choice…
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 Question Answers
Read the first chapter carefully. What does this paragraph tell Acceptable points:
you about Little Pele’s character? 1. hardworking
2. caring/devoted/concerned for his family
Explain two features of his character, using evidence from the
3. passionate/fanatical about football
text to support your answer.
[3 marks] 4. upbeat/optimistic

 Award 3 marks for two acceptable points, at least one with

evidence, e.g.

• I can tell that he’s hardworking since he’s out in the heat

trying to sell papayas to the tourists. He also seems very
 upbeat despite having a tough life. [AP1 + evidence, AP4]
 • Little Pele is devoted to his family because he is willing to
work on the rubbish dumps to pay for food for them. He is
 obsessed with football – it’s his life. [AP2 + evidence, AP3].

Award 2 marks for either two acceptable points, or one
 acceptable point with evidence, e.g.
 • It tells you that Little Pele doesn’t stop trying to earn money
even though the conditions are tough as he cares very much
 for his family. [AP2 + evidence]

• It tells us that he is fanatical about football and concerned for
 his family. [AP3 + AP2].
 Award 1 mark for one acceptable point, e.g.
 • He is very hardworking. [AP1]
 • He is very caring and worried about the welfare of his family.
[AP2].

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